Heat-regulating apparatus



Sheet 1.

. 2 Sheets (No Model.)

0. L. PORTIER. HEAT REGULATING APPARATUS.

No. 594,346. Patented Nov. 23,1897.-

Ml E T (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. L.-'PORTIER. HEAT REGULATING APPARATUS.

No. 594,346. Patented Nov. 23,1897..

. 70 H/MP G UNITED ST TES PATENT Qrrr CHARLES FORTIEB, OF MILWAUKEE,VJISG NSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE J OH SON ELECTRIC SERVICE COMPANY, OFlVlSCONSlN.

H EAT-REGU LATiNG APPARATUS.

srncrr'ronr'zon forming art of Letters man No. 594,346, dated Novgnber23, 1897.

i i Applicgtionfiled September 12,1896. Serial No. 605,556. (lilomodel.)

T ZZ whom it may OOFZGGT'WZ/I V no it known that 1, CHARLES L; FOR-TIER,of Milwaukee; in the county of Milwaukee and State of 'Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Heat-RegulatingApparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

, lhe main objectsof my invention are to r 5 employ a continuouselectric current for the operation or control of heat-regulatingapparatus; to prevent sparking at thermostats,

-.particularly when currents of high potential are used; to facilitatetesting the circuit and repairing breaks and removing grounds therein;ton-void waste of energy or rapid consumption of electrodes whenbatteries are used to supply current; to dispense with springs,permanent magnets, and circuit-breakers, and

2 5 generally to improve the construction and operation of apparatus ofthe class to which my invention relates.

It consists of certain novel features in the construction andarrangement of component 3.0 parts of the apparatus, as hereinafterparticularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

' In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same orsimilar parts in the several figures.

Figure l is a diagram and elevation of one form of apparatus embodyingmy improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of oneof the electromagnetic val res in connection with a thermostat and mainheat- 40 regulating valve or damper; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of amodiliod'forin of the electromagnetic val V0 and its electrical co'nnections.

Referring to Fig. 1, A designates a heater,

which may be of any common or suitable form. for the purpose ofillustration a combination hot-air and steam or hot-water heater, whichis connected with certain rooms or apartments of a building by hot-airpipes B B and withradiators (S' (f in certain other apartments by steamor water pipes 13"? but the application of in y invention is by no meansconfined In the present instance I have shown to this combination of thetwo modes of heat ingand the arrangement of apparatus shown. The hot-airpipes B B open in the usual way into the apartments to be heated throughsuitable registers b E) and are provided with controlling or regulatingvalves or dampers D 1), while the pipes B B are provided near theradiators to which they lead with valves 1) D. The several valves ordampers D D are connected with suitable motors E E, by which they aredirectly actuatedunderthe control of thermostatically controlledelectromagnetic valves F F, or the heat-regulating valves or dampersmaybe constructed and arranged to be operated directly byelectromagnetic devices controlled by thermostats in a manner similar tothat shown in the drawings.

. The motors, consisting in the present case of expansion-chambers andflexible diaphragins, as shown in Fig. 2, are connected by pipes e cwith the valves F F and by pipes e c with a pump G, which may haveconnections, as shown, with a water-main ll and sewer I and be operatedautomatically by liquid-pressure.

As shown in Fig. 2, the valves F each comprise an air-tight case orchamber f, having a port or passage f communicating through a Filter fwith the atmosphere, an armature lever or arm J, pivoted within saidcase and provided with a valve 3' for closing the port or passage f, andan electromagnet K, the

core of which projects through said case into proximity with said arm orlever, so that when the magnet is energized it will draw said valve 3'against its seat and close the port or passage f, a spring j acting onsaid arm or lever in opposition to said magnet and tending to hold-thevalve open.

The main heat-regulating valves or dampers D I) of the apparatus, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, are'designed to be operated by a vacuum or byexhausting the chambers ofthe motors E, and for this purpose the pipes ee have restricted ports or passages, as at c, Fig. 2, of smaller areathan the ports or passages f, so that when the latter are open themotors will be supplied with air faster than. they are exhausted, andconsequently will be inflated, allowing springs e, as shown in 2, toopen the valves or dampers D D,

Filters e e are provided between the restricted ports e and the motorsand chainterrupting' or interfering with bers of valves E, and, with thefilters f prevent dust and dirt from entering and clogging said portsand air-passages and thusinthe operation of the" apparatus.

The coils of the magnets K K are connected infseries by wires L L with abattery M or other convenient source of electricity.

N N are sin gle-poin't thermostats placed in shunts 'n a, tapping thecircuit L Lion oppo-- site sides of the magnets K K.

00 are coils having'a resistance approximately equal to that of themagnets K K. They are placedin the main circuit L L and associated withthe several electromagnetic valves K K and with shunts p p, containingautomatic circuit-controllers P P and tapping the main circuit onopposite sides of the said resistance-coils O O.

The circuit-controllers P P for closing the shunts p p and cutting outthe resistances O 0 whenever the associated shunts n n are opened by thethermostats N N, and thereby maintaining an approximately constantresistance in the main circuit L L, may each conveniently consist, asshown in Fig. 2, of two spring-contacts p p, to which the shuntwires p pare attached, a movable head. 19 having a stem projecting through theValvecase f into the path of the armature lever or arm J, and a flexiblediaphragm p attached to said stem in or over an opening in saidvalve-case.

Referring to Fi v3, showing a modification of a part of the apparatus, Fdesignates an, electromagnetic valve mechanism for controlling theadmission and release of the actuating fluid to and fromthe motor andthe operation of the valve or damper connected therewith. It comprisesan air-tight chamber or case fi, having supply and exhaust ports orpassages f and f and a service connection f leading into the expansionture-lever. The coils of said magnets areconnected in series with eachother and'with the battery or other source of electricity by themain-circuit wires L L.

Nis atwo-point thermostat, the expansionstrip at of which is connectedby a wire at with "the main circuit between the two magnets and thecontacts a n of which are connected by wires in and n with the maincircuit outside of said magnet-s, thereby form; ing shunts by which thecoil of either one of the magnets is cut out of the main circuit,according to the position of the expansion-strip n of the thermostat.vice a separate resistance-coil is dispensed with, since the coil of oneof the magnets is In this form of the de.

always in circuit and affords the requircdresistance to preventdepletion of battery or consumption of electric energy. .This' form ofthe device also avoids the necessity of springs and permanent magnets,as the current flowing through the coil which is not shunted holds theopposite valve to its seat, and while the expansion-strip n is out ofengagement with both contacts 91. it current passes through the coils ofboth magnets, so I that the oneby which the armature-lever J isattracted when this condition occurs will holditby reason of its closerproximity therewith against the othermagnet. The arrangement of thevalve-controlling magnets of both forms of the apparatus in a continuouselectric circuit in series with each other and the provision or" thethermostaticallycontrolled shunts around the several magnets enables meto dispense with the circuit-break- -ers employed in other systems ofthis class.

The form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2 admits of the use of asingle-point thermostat, by which it is well known to those familiarwith the'subject that temperature can be regulated within closer limitsthan by the double *point or contact thermostats commonly used. By aslight modification a fluid under pressure maybe employed with this formof valve instead of a vacuum.

The form and arrangement of the valve mechanism and its connectionsshown in l ig. 3 is suitable for use either with a fluid under pressureor a vacuum, with this advantage, however, over the other formthat inone position the port or passage leading from the valve-chamber to thepump will be closed, and in that position there will be no waste in thefluid energy.

My improved arrangement of the electric connections of the apparatusadmits of its operation by current of high potential, and when it isaccessible and convenient the circuit L may be supplied with currentfrom an electric-light plant or other source of strong current withoutdetriment to the operation of the'lights or other apparatus supplied bysuch current. When a sutliciently powerful current is employed, theinternrcdiate fluid.- motors between the electromagnetic valves and themain heat-regulating valves or dampers maybe dispensed with and themagnets arranged to operate theheat-reg ulati ng valves or dampersdirectly. Accidental breaks or grounds in the electric circuit may beeasily located by grounding one side of the battery or generator andtapping the wire leading from the opposite side with a ground connectionat diiferent points. In this way an intervening break or ground in thecircuit can be easily detected.

Myimprovedapparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, operates as follows:When the temperature in any apartment controlled by the system is at orbelow the u t for which the apparatus is set and trip n,

,of the thermostat rent isshunted through the Wiresn it around the coilof the associated magnet K, which is thusdeenergizedfThearmatureleverorarm, J, being thus released, is drawn awayii om' andpipe e to the diaphragm-chamber of the associated motor faster than itis exhausted by the pump through the restricted passage e in pipe e. Themotor is thus in dated, and the spring (2 acting on the diaphragin' inopposition to the pump, opens the main valve or damper D, as shown inFig. 2 and the lower left-hand portion of Fig. 1, thereby admittingtheheating medium through the pipe 13 into the apartment with which itoommunicates, containing the thermostat. When the armature lever J isretracted by "its spring j, it engages the stem of the movable member pof the circuit controller and thrusts it out of engagement with thecontactsprings p p, thereby opening the shunt p p and compelling thecurrent to pass through" the resistance-coil O'when the thermostaticshunt n n is closed and the coil of magnet K is out out of circuit. Inthis Way the resistance of the circuit is kept substantially constant orsufficient to prevent Waste or unnecessary consumption of current andinterior ence with the operation of lights or other apparatus which maybe supplied from the source of-current. When the temperature is raisedin'this apartment to or slightly above the degree for which theapparatus is set, the

expansion-strip n of the thermostat is de-- fiected out of engagementwith its contact n and the shunt it n opened. Current is thus compelledto pass again through the magnet K, which, being energized thereby,attracts the lever or arm J, closing the port f by the valve j. Thesupply of airthrough the valvechamber to the motor E being thus cut off,

the chamber of the motor is exhausted by the action of the pump throughthe pipe 0,

collapsing the diaphragm, compressing the spring e, and closing thevalve or damper .l), as shown inthe lower right-hand portion of Fig. 1,thereby cutting off the heating medium from the apartment. to which thepipe B leads. When the arm J is-attractcd. by magnet K and thevalve-chamber is exhausted by the pump, the diaphragm p is collapsedordrawn in, carrying the heel p of the circuit-controller intoengagement with the contact-springs p 19, thereby closing the shunt p paround the resistance-coii 0. When the temperature in said apartmentfalls to or slightly bclou the degree for which iJhBiliGT- mostat isset, the operation of the apparatus as first described will be repeated,opening the damper and admitting the heating medium again into saidapartment.

Vifith the form of electromagnetic valve and tho-arrangement of circuitconnections sh own I in Fig. 3 the operation of the-apparatus is similarto that of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, and will be readily understoodby those familiar with the subject without further explanation.

Various changes may be made in the details of the apparatus. Within thespirit and in tended scope of my invention.

I claiu1-- g a 1. The combination With'a heat-regulating valve ordampen-Of an electrom agnet for controllingthe operation of said valveor damper, an electricQcircuit connecting the coil of said magnet With-asource of electricity and a shunt containing athermostat and tappingsaid ci cuit on opposite sides of said magnet, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. The combination with a number of heatregulatinx valves or dampers, ofelectromagnets for controlling the operation of said valves or dampers,an electric circuit connecting the coils of said magnets in series witha source of electricity and a shunt for each magnet containing athermostat and tapping said circuit on opposite sides of said magnet,substantially as and for the puposes set forth.

3. The combination with a heat-regulating valve or damper, of aneleotromagnet for con-. trolling the operation of said valve or damper,

magnet with a source of eiectricity, a thermostat in a shunt tappingsaid circuit on opposite sides of said magnet, a resistance in saidcircuit, and a shunt around said resistance containing an automaticcircuit-controller which is arranged to cut out said resistance Wheneverthe thermostat is opened substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

4. The combination with heat-regulating -valves or dampers, ofelectromagnets for controlling their operation, an electric circuitconnecting the coils of said magnets in series with a source ofelectricity, a' shunt around each magnet containing a thermostat, a resistance in said circuit for each magnet, and a shunt around saidresistance containing an automatic circuit-controller arranged to open.

shunt Whenever the associated thermostatic shunt is closed,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination with heat-regulating valves or-dampers,ofelectromagnets con'irolconuectingthecoils of said-magnets inserieswith a source or electricity, and 'single=pcint" thermostats havingtheir expansion strips connected with said circuit on one side and theircontacts connected with said circuit on as and for the purposes setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own I a'iiix-my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

CH ARLES L. FOR-TIER.

\Vitnesses.

- CHAS. L. Goss,

FRANK A. KREHLO.

ling'the operation thereof, an electric circuit ,an'electric circuitconnecting the coil of said 4 the other side of said magnets,substantially 2 5

